The 27,000 social housing tenants from across the country who took part in the first phase of the Tenant Service Authority's (TSA) National Conversation have listed getting repairs and maintenance right, ensuring homes are up to date and in a decent condition, tackling anti-social behaviour and being involved in decisions as top priorities for their landlords.
The TSA will now use this feedback to propose new standards for landlords - the first to ever be developed - to help improve services for tenants.
The report, outlining the findings of the largest ever consultation with social housing tenants in England, was officially launched by Peter Marsh, TSA Chief Executive.
Key report findings include:
At the same time, the second phase of the National Conversation, was launched - with the TSA publishing a discussion paper on the draft standards that will apply to all social housing landlords in England from 2010.
The standards focus on six key themes:
Peter Marsh said:
"This groundbreaking consultation highlights the needs of both existing and future social housing tenants and we have taken on board the key findings from this research in the design of our proposed standards.
"Tenants have told us that they want to be involved in decisions about their homes, and they want good communication from their landlord. They want choice, particularly in relation to the repairs and maintenance service and the design of their homes.
"The best landlords already excel in these areas and our task now is to encourage others to learn from the best and in doing so, improve the lives of millions of residents in England.
"Security in their neighbourhood and health and safety for tenants were also identified as areas of concern. Tenants have also said they want reasonable and affordable rents and consideration needs to be given as to how to best address this, including greater communication on how rents are set, how rent money is being spent by landlords and clarity over the TSA's role as regulator in this process.
"But our approach is about far more than just setting standards. Fundamentally we want to see a renewed focus of landlords engaging with their tenants and both working together so that tenants and those in housing need get the best possible deal."
The consultation on the draft standards runs until 8 September 2009. The final phase will be a statutory consultation, which will be launched in the Autumn 2009.
